JP4074585B2 - claw - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a nail for playing or stroking a string of a musical instrument. In particular, the present invention relates to a nail for holding between a thumb and another finger.

  Claws or picks for stringed instruments such as guitars, banjos, harps and the like have long been used as an alternative to human fingernails to flick or strum strings. These claws are a useful device for users who wish to play stringed instruments.

  Typically, the user selects the nail according to its characteristics, the type of string used in the instrument, and his playing style and skill.

  A typical nail is a flat piece of material made of plastic, wood, bone, shells, metal or other suitable material. Plastic nails are becoming more commonly used, making them more popular for use with nylon strings. Metal claws are hard and rigid and are mainly suitable for metal strings. These materials have their own characteristic stiffness and are used to create various tones and tone textures.

  Conventional nails are also made in various shapes. The normal shape is a triangle or an ellipse (melon seed or tear). There are three factors that affect the characteristic sounds that the nails create. That is, the grip point between the thumb and another finger, the distance from the grip point of the performance edge, and the thickness at the performance edge.

  The problem with flat nails is that it is difficult to have a good grip between the thumb and other fingers. This affects the accuracy of nailing the individual strings of the instrument. In order to overcome this problem of providing a good grip, the prior art has shown the use of knurling or notching the grip points, especially for plastic molded nails. Another method is to provide an opening at the gripping point. By providing a good grip on the nail, this allows the user to accurately nail the strings to create a specific tone and the user is confident with his style It makes it possible to express the technique of performing.

  Nail size is another factor. These are a tradeoff between size and ease of gripping the nails. A large nail provides a larger gripping area, but its size interferes with the quick pivoting of the nail between the thumb and other fingers. On the other hand, the smaller nail grip area is limited, but the smaller size gives the user better agility.

  These conventional nails are typically described as “thick”, “intermediate”, and “thin” with thicknesses of 1, 0.7 and 0.5 mm, respectively. For example, for use in guitar playing, a “thick” nail creates a larger powerful sound for solo or lead. “Thin” nails create a gentle soft sound, such as for acoustic background sounds. A “medium” thickness nail can be used for normal or normal sound.

  Normal nails have a limited number of playing edges. The playing edge is often located at the end of the nail. When different tones or sounds are required, the user needs to alternate several available playing edges on the nail. Otherwise, he must change to a different nail while playing the instrument. This may be necessary when the user wants to create a sound texture, for example from a heavy metal rock type to a soft strum of a 12 string acoustic guitar.

  The nail of the present invention aims to overcome, or at least alleviate, some of the above disadvantages or problems of conventional nails. The aim is to provide the user with control and versatility and quality in the generation of string instrument tones with the aid of nails.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention,
(A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second part comprising further string engaging means;
(C) connecting the first and second parts, and an integrally formed connection member formed in the shape of an arc across the claw,
A plurality of string engaging means and the further engaging means allow a user to play the string instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the string instrument with the one or more string engaging means. Is configured to
A nail for a stringed instrument is provided in which the connecting member provides a grip for gripping between the user's finger and thumb.

  Typically, the nail has a raised or stepped member formed across the center of the nail. The raised or stepped member is also curved and protrudes into the first portion.

  Usually, the first and second portions of the nail are each a flat member, and the first portion is in a raised position with respect to the second portion.

  Optionally, the first or second portion of the nail includes at least one pointed string engaging edge, at least one serrated or scalloped string engaging edge, and at least one oval (or It has a string engaging edge in the shape of a melon seed or teardrop.

  Preferably, the first portion of the pawl comprises a short pointed string engaging edge that is in close proximity to the serrated or scalloped string engaging edge.

  Typically, the raised or stepped member has at least one end that can function as a further string engaging edge.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention,
(A) a first substantially flat member having a plurality of string engaging edges;
(B) a second substantially flat member having a further string engaging edge;
(C) an integrally formed raised or stepped connection member that connects the first and second members and is formed in the shape of an arc across the center of the claw;
The connecting member provides a secure grip for gripping between the user's thumb or finger;
A plurality of string engaging edges and the further string engaging edge allow a user to play the stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with the one or more stringed engaging edges. A claw having a first end and a second end for a stringed musical instrument configured to enable this is provided.

Alternatively, in the third embodiment,
(A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion having further string engaging means; and (c) an integrally formed connection that connects the first and second members and is formed in the shape of a curved groove that crosses the claw. With members,
A plurality of string engaging edges and the further string engaging edge allow a user to play the stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with the one or more stringed engaging edges. Is configured to allow
A nail for a stringed instrument is provided in which the connecting member provides a grip for gripping between the user's thumb and other fingers.

Alternatively, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
(A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion having additional string engaging means;
(C) The first and second members are connected to each other, and are integrally formed in the shape of a curved ridge that crosses the first surface of the claw and a groove on the second opposite surface of the claw. A connection member formed on
The plurality of string engaging edges and the further string engaging means allow the user to play the string instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the string instrument with the one or more string engaging means. Configured to enable,
A nail for a stringed instrument is provided in which the connecting member provides a grip for gripping between the user's thumb and other fingers.

Alternatively, in yet another embodiment,
(A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion having additional string engaging means;
(C) An integrally formed connecting member that connects the first and second members and is formed in the shape of a combination of a curved ridge and a groove extending substantially across at least one surface of the claw And
A plurality of string engaging edges and the further string engaging edge allow a user to play the stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with the one or more stringed engaging edges. Is configured to allow
A nail for a stringed instrument is provided in which the connecting member provides a grip for gripping between the user's finger and thumb.

Alternatively, in yet another embodiment,
(A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion also having a plurality of string engaging means, wherein the first portion is attached to the second portion, and (c) at least one surface of the claw is substantially Means for gripping the user's thumb or finger in the form of a curvilinear ridge and groove combination extending across,
Allowing a user to play a stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with each of the string engaging means formed in either the first part or the second part; A claw for a stringed musical instrument is provided in which a plurality of string engaging means is formed on the first and second portions in a configuration that allows.

  Alternatively, nail variants of the present invention are provided, such as mirror images of each implementation suitable for left-handed users. Furthermore, the arcuate ridges or grooves may be formed from several discontinuous segments without traversing the full width of the nail.

  Typically, the nails of the present invention are made from a material selected from the group of plastic, metal, metal alloy and fiberglass.

  The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a claw 1. The nail 1 comprises two parts 10 and 12, respectively. The two portions 10 and 12 are not coplanar and are offset in the transverse direction by a distance substantially the thickness of the claw 1. These two portions 10 and 12 are connected by a step member 14 formed integrally. The step member 14 has an arc shape, and the apex of the arc extends into the first portion 10.

  The portion 10 has two corners 114 and 118 that face each other. On the other hand, the portion 12 has a corner 112 in the shape of an ellipse (melon seed or tear) that is distal from the other corners 114, 118. These corners define three playing edges 112, 114, 118 for engaging the strings of the instrument. However, further performance edges are described below.

  The playing edge 112 has a rectangular or elliptical shape and has a rounded tip. This edge 112 is suitable for normal playing and is used to strum or nail individual strings in ascending and descending stroke movements. The sharp playing edge 114 is sharper than the edge 112 and is suitable for fast nail play. Edge 118 is a pointed edge similar to 114 but joined to another serrated or scalloped playing edge 116.

  An arcuate step 14 creates a recessed surface 102. For example, when using the edge 112 to engage an instrument string, 102 defines a thumb grip area and a corresponding area on the opposite side of the nail 1 for the index finger. In this gripping position, the back curve of the thumb fits comfortably with the curved step 14 (as shown in FIG. 2). This curved step 14 provides a firm and active grip on the nail 1 for the thumb. Similarly, the curved step on the opposite side of the nail 1 also provides an active grip on the finger. By providing a firmer grip, the user can easily pivot the nail 1 between the thumb and the finger each time it alternates between the ascending stroke and the nail stroking / screaming.

  When using a sharp edge 114 to engage the string, the gripping region is located at 103, for example. The distance from the gripping point 103 to the edge 114 is shorter than the distance from 102 to 112. This makes the corner 114 more rigid, and thus the edge 114 is suitable for fast nail play and produces a louder sound for solo performances and the like. In this gripping position 103, the curve in front of the thumb is fitted with a curved step 14 to provide an active grip for the thumb. The sharp playing edge 114 of this corner of the nail 1 is also designed so that the edge 114 is held at an ideal angle of 30 degrees with the string for fast nail play and to create a clear inflection Has been.

  Scalloped edge 116 includes at least three small curved edges 117. These constituent edge portions 117 form a convex contour shape with respect to the edge portion 116. When this edge 116 is used to strum a string, each string is strung one or more times with each stroke, creating a plurality of timbres, such as a 12-string guitar timbre. The edges 116 are also used to create various strumming timbres, such as providing more treble effects. The edge 116 provides good contact with the strings and is suitable for stroking both nylon and steel stringed instruments.

  The scalloped edge 116 terminates at another sharp playing edge 118. Edges 116 and 118 are proximate to each other, providing the user with the choice of strumming the strings on both edges 116, 118 or only the edges 118. For example, having a firm grip at the location 104 provided by the curvilinear edge 14 allows the user to pivot the nail 1 around his thumb and finger, which In addition, it provides a degree of freedom to combine the effects of edges 116 and 118 fairly easily. When the edge 118 is struck with a claw 1 at an angle with the string and at the same time the edge 116 is allowed to contact the string, an artificially attenuated overtone is created.

  The step edge member 14 has a Z-shaped contour shape on both sides of the claw 1 as an end point. The Z-shaped contour edges 120, 120 'are suitable for drawing the strings of musical instruments. This provides an alternative to pinching strings with human fingers to create popping or slaving sound effects.

  Each surface of the gripping points 102, 103, 104 may have a concave indentation or a convex protrusion to provide additional grip for the thumb or finger.

  By selecting the performance points 112, 114, 116, 120, 120 ', the nail 1 provides the user with the flexibility to play stringed instruments. The step edge 14 also provides a reference point for the user to move his gripping point when different performance edges are used alternately. This helps him to place accurate performance points and use them quickly and accurately. For example, after playing at the edge 112, the nail 1 is rotated with his thumb and other fingers, and his gripping point is moved, for example, to the point 103 by the sensation of the step edge 14 and played fairly easily and accurately. An edge 114 can be used. This feature helps the user play fast.

  The nail 1 of the present invention also allows flexible control by holding the nail between the thumb and other fingers compared to a nail attached to the thumb or finger. This allows the user to control the angle of inclination with respect to the string during nail flipping / squeaking of ascending or descending strokes. This also allows the user to pivot the nail 1 around the gripping point, freeing the fingers from being twisted. The freedom to pivot about the gripping point between the thumb and finger and to try to alternate the front and back of the playing edge also allows the musician to make his own style and playing technique, and the desired It is possible to express combinations of timbres.

  Due to the stepped edge 14, the pawl 1 is not flat and can be easily picked up from the table or from the inside of its holder.

  The claw 1 has a size of substantially 30 mm from the curved playing edge 112 to the serrated edge 116 and substantially 28 mm from the playing edge 114 to the edge 118. The claw 1 is made of plastic and is suitable for manufacturing by plastic injection molding, for example. The nail 1 is also manufactured in thicknesses of about 1, 0.7 and 0.5 mm and is described as “thick”, “intermediate”, “thin”.

  The same reference numbers are maintained to indicate features that are common to the first and following embodiments. Letters a, b, etc. may be added to distinguish similar features of the embodiments.

  FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the claw 1a. The claw 1a includes a planar main body 20 having three corners and an arc-shaped raised portion 201 formed integrally. The first corner has a corner 112a in the shape of an ellipse (a melon seed or teardrop) commonly used for normal performance. The second corner includes a sharp playing edge 114a, while the third corner includes a further sharp playing edge 118a. Continuing from 118a, there is a playing edge 116a having a serrated or scalloped edge at the edge common to 114a. The raised portion 201 is curved and extends across the claw 1a to separate the first corner 112a from the other two corners 114a, 118a. The apex of the raised portion 201 faces the direction away from the corner portion 112a. The raised portion 201 ends at the edge portions 120a and 120a 'on the side surface of the claw 1a. These edges 120a, 120a 'are also suitable as further string engaging edges. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the claw 1a.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the claw 1b. The claw 1b has a planar main body 30 having arc-shaped grooves 202 formed integrally with three corners. The first corner has a playing edge 112b in the shape of an ellipse (melon seed or teardrop) that is typically used for normal playing. The second corner includes a sharp playing edge 114b, while the third corner includes a further sharp playing edge 118b. Continuing from 118b is a playing edge 116b having a serrated or scalloped edge at the edge common to 114b. The apex of the groove 202 faces away from the corner 112b. The groove 202 has end points 120b and 120b 'on the side surface of the claw 1b. These edges 120b, 120b 'are also suitable as string engaging edges for stringed instruments. FIG. 7 shows a side view of the claw 1b. As shown, the grooves 202 on both surfaces of the claw 1b are offset from each other so that the thickness of the claw 1b is not adversely affected.

  FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the claw 1c. The claw 1c has a combination of an arcuate ridge 201 on one surface and a groove 202 on the other surface. FIG. 9 shows a side view of the claw 1c. As described above, the playing edges used to create the characteristic tone of the edge itself are 112c, 114c, 116c and 118c.

  FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the claw 1d. The claw 1d has a combination of an arc-shaped raised portion 201 and an arc-shaped groove 202 on the same surface. The opposite surface optionally has the same combination of ridges 201 and grooves 202. FIG. 11 shows a side view of the claw 1d.

  Although a few embodiments of the nail have been described and illustrated, it should be understood that changes, modifications, and variations to the present invention are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. The above-described nail deformation forms are mirror images of the embodiments, and such mirror image nails are suitable for left-handed users. Another modification is that the arcuate ridge 201 or groove 202 extends substantially across the claw 1 but does not cross the full width of the claw 1. The arcuate ridge 201 or groove 202 may also be formed from several discontinuous segments. Other materials such as metals, metal alloys or fiberglass can be used. Other manufacturing methods such as metal injection molding, powder metallurgy are also suitable for the manufacture of the nail 1.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of a nail as shown in FIG. 1, shown with the thumb and other fingers in use. FIG. 3 is another side view of a nail as shown in FIG. 1 being held between a thumb and a finger. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a nail according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a nail according to the present invention.

Claims (19)

(A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion having additional string engaging means;
(C) connecting the first and second parts, and an integrally formed connection member formed in the shape of an arc across the claw,
A plurality of string engaging means and said further string engaging means allow a user to play a stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with one or more string engaging means Is configured to
The connecting member provides a gripping part for gripping between the user's thumb and any other finger other than the thumb;
A nail for a stringed instrument, wherein the first and second parts are planar and the plane of the first part is shifted relative to the plane of the second part by the thickness of the nail.   The nail according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is raised or stepped.   The nail of claim 2, wherein the raised or stepped member has at least one end forming an additional surface that can engage the string.   The nail | claw of Claim 2 or 3 in which the arc of a connection member protrudes in the said 1st part.   5. A gripping area for a user's thumb or other finger, further comprising a recessed surface defined by an arc of a connecting member. claw. (A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion having additional string engaging means;
(C) connecting the first and second parts, and an integrally formed connection member formed in the shape of an arc across the claw,
A plurality of string engaging means and said further string engaging means allow a user to play a stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with one or more string engaging means Is configured to
The connecting member provides a gripping part for gripping between the user's thumb and any other finger other than the thumb;
A nail for a stringed instrument, wherein the connecting member is a curved groove extending across the surface of the nail. (A) a first portion having a plurality of string engaging means;
(B) a second portion having additional string engaging means;
(C) connecting the first and second parts, and an integrally formed connection member formed in the shape of an arc across the claw,
A plurality of string engaging means and said further string engaging means allow a user to play a stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with one or more string engaging means Is configured to
The connecting member provides a gripping part for gripping between the user's thumb and any other finger other than the thumb;
The connecting member includes a curved ridge extending across the first surface of the nail and a curved groove extending across a corresponding opposing surface of the nail, the curved groove A nail for a stringed musical instrument, provided at a position directly corresponding to the curved raised portion.   The nail according to claim 7, wherein the curved ridges and grooves are disposed across the center of the nail, and the shape of the curve is the same.   The nail according to claim 6, wherein the connecting member is a combination of a groove on the first surface forming an S-shaped cross section in the nail and a parallel groove on a surface opposite to the nail.   The nail according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the connection member is a combination of a ridge and a groove that abut each other on at least one surface of the nail.   The nail according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is a flat member.   12. A claw according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the string engaging means formed on the first or second part is at least one pointed string engaging edge.   The nail | claw as described in any one of Claim 1 to 11 in which the string engaging means formed on the 1st or 2nd part is a some edge formed in the shape of a sawtooth or a scallop.   The nail | claw as described in any one of Claim 1 to 11 in which the string engagement means formed on the 1st or 2nd part is the string engagement edge formed in tear shape.   12. A claw according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion has a short pointed chord engagement edge formed in close proximity to a serrated or scalloped edge. Edges formed in a saw-toothed or scalloped comprises a plurality of curved edges, and a short sharp edges and serrated or scalloped to form the edges close to each other, in use The user can create a weakened overtone by playing a guitar string using a short pointed edge and at the same time touching that string using a curved edge Item 15. The nail according to Item 15. (A) a first flat member having a plurality of string engaging edges;
(B) a second flat member having a further string engaging edge;
(C) connecting the first and second members, and having a raised or stepped connection member formed integrally in an arc formed across the center of the claw,
The connecting member provides a secure grip for gripping between the user's thumb or other fingers;
A plurality of string engaging edges and the further string engaging edge allow a user to play the stringed instrument by engaging at least one or more strings of the stringed instrument with the one or more stringed engaging edges. A nail having a first end and a second end for a stringed instrument configured to allow   18. A claw according to claim 17, wherein the raised or stepped member is formed with a string engaging edge at one or both ends.   The nail according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the nail is made of a material selected from the group of plastic, metal, metal alloy and fiberglass.

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